Variable speed transmission



W. A. DUFFIELD VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION May 25, 1937.

Filed June 8, 1936 A TTO/F/VE Y.

Patented May 25, 1937 VARIABLE srnnn ramsmss ron 7 William A. Duilield, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, asslgnor toJFuno Corporation Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation Application June a, 1936, Serial No. 84,823

6 Claims. (01. 14-293) This invention relates to variable speed transmission of the drive of prime movers to the operating shaft of automobiles and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a mechanism that will be semi-automatic.

A further object is to provide a mechanism including a Fottinger fluid coupling, with means tofill or empty its members, whereby the vdrive is made automatic only when'the fluid coupling is filled.

A further object is to provide a mechanism in which the drive to the tail shaft is not directly connected to, the fluid coupling but continues through reduction gears until the fluid coupling is cut in by manual control.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section throughaxis to the shafts. 2 l ggure 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1 on the line a ilzigure 3 is a cross section of Fig. 1 on the line The construction is as follows:-

The casing TI is in two sections which are secured together by bolts. A drive shaft l which is connected to a prime mover by the usual clutch is journalled in bearings 10 in the casing 'l.

A tail shaft 2 is journalled in bearings ii, in

30 the casing l, and has a bore 2| with bearings 22 to receive the extension ll of the drive shaft i. Keyed to the shaft is-a pinion i0, while the tail shaft ends in a pinion 28.

The pinion l8 meshes with a series of plane- 35, tary gears ll keyed to a series 42 which mesh with the pinion 28. A

The planetary gears are journalled on pins 40 in a carrier 4.

This carrier 4 has a sleeve 44 journalled on the 40 tall shaft 2.

Itsopposite end is integral with the runner member 3| of a Fottinger fluid coupling, and is joumalled" on a ball bearing 46.

An over running clutch 62, in a sleeve 80 secured to a brake drum 6, bears on the sleeve 44 55 sleeve 58 is secured to the sleeve ii.

The driver member '30 of the fluid coupling, is secured to the sleeve 58. A bowl 32 covers the driver 38 and is bolted to the runner 3|.

A-brake .drum 5 is .journalled on a ball bearing 52 about the shaft i. The drum 5 is controlled by shoes 55 on apivot an outer rimi'l is bolted to the drum 5.

A seris of apertures 35 open through the drum 8', the sleeve 50 and the driver member 33, as shown in Figure 3. Y A passage 8 leads'i'rom the space at'the top of the casing i above the rim 51.

A scraper valve 8|, pivoted on a pin'82 and controlled by a lever 83 bears lightly on the run 51 when open as seen in Figure 2.

The passage 8 leads to the apertures 35.. A

flange 18 to the casing 'Lruns parallel to the rim ll and 42 to the pinion -28 of the tail shaft 2.

The carrier 4 is held from reverse rotation by the brake drum 6, sleeve 60 and over running clutch 62, being held from rotation.

The gears 43 rotate the pinion 53, sleeves 5| and 5d and the driver member 30.

While the lever 83 holds the valve 8| closed, no oil is fed into the passage 8 to the interior of the fluid coupling, and the driver 30 rotates without resistance and slips past the runner 3|.

The drive is then at low speed and is not affected by the fluid coupling.

When the lever 83 is turned to open the' valve 8| as shown in Figure 2, the ofl which is carried by the rim 51 from the bottom of the casing 1 is scraped off into the passage 8 and thence through the aperturesinto the fluid coupling. As the fluid coupling begins to function and the drive of the driver 38 is taken up by the runner 3| the carrier 4 is speeded up. This rotation of the carrier 4 gradually cuts out the reduction action of the gears 4| and 42 until the entire mechanism within the casing is rotated at approximately the speed of the drive shaft I.

The drive is then direct or high speed.

While the valve 8| is open the change of speed is automatic due to the functioning of the fluid coupling whereby the drive through the reduction gears 4i and H on the carrier l is gradually cut out.

As the oil fed to the fluid coupling is constant when the valve 8| is open. the series of outlets 3B. which are selected to pass out the required amount, maintain the fluid coupling with .the proper charge. when the valve Ii is'closed the outlets 3' empty the fluid coupling rapidly.

When the drum 5 is held for reverse the pinion 58 being held causes the gears 43 to rotate the carrier in the reverse direction the drum i, having been freed.

As the fluid coupling is empty as there is no feed, the members 01' the fluid coupling do not function the driver 39 being still while the runner rotates with the carrier 4.

Another feature of importance is that as the gear 43 is intermediate to the gears 4| and t2, the reduction at low speed to the sleeve 50 and he driver 30 will be less than tc the tail shaft 2. By this means thevfluid coupling williunction more rapidly than ii the driver were mounted on the tail shaft and the automatic cut out will ope ate sooner with this assembly.

By varying the proportions oi the pinion" and the gear ll, the speed of rotation of the driver 30 of the fluid coupling can be adjusted to increase or decrease the rapidity of the automatic action of the fluid coupling.

What I claim is:-

1. In a variable speed transmission, the combination of a casing, a drive shaft journalled in the casing, a tail shaft journalled in the casing and 'journalling the drive shaft. adjacent pinions on the driveand tail shaits, planetary reduction gears meshing with the pinions, a carrier with pins journalling the reduction gears, a one way clutch bearing on the carrier, a third set 0! gears keyed to the reduction gears, a sleeve journalled on the drive shaft having a pinion meshing with the third set of gears, a Fottinger fluid coupling having driver and runner members, the driver member secured to the sleeve, the runner member integral with the carrier and means to fill and empty the fluid coupling. 4

2. In a variable speed transmission, the combination of a casing, a drive shaft journalled in the casing, a tail shaft journalled in the casing and journalling the drive shaft, adfacent pinions on the drive and tail shaits, planetary reduction gears meshing with the pinions, a carrier with pins journalling the reduction gears, a one way clutch bearing on the carrier a third set 0! gears keyed to the reduction gears, a sleeve journalied on the drive shaft having a pinion meshing with the third set of gears, a Fottinger fluid coupling aoaaecs having driver and runner members the driver member secured to the sleeve, the runner member integral with the carrier and a brake drum secured to the sleeve, an outer rim to the brake drum, a scraper valve pivoted to the casing, bear- .journalling the drive shaft, both shafts journalled in the casing, planetary reduction gears between the shafts, a carrier with pins lournailing the reduction gears and a third set of gears keyed to the reduction gears, a sleeve journailed on the drive shaft having a pinion meshing with the third set of gears, a brake drum secured I to-the sleeve, a Fottinger fluid coupling having driver and runner members, the driver member secured to the sleeve, the runner member integral with the carrier, a series of passages through the brake drum and through the driver member into the fluid coupling, and manually controlled means operating on the brake drum to feed oil from the casing into the passages and fluid coupling.

4. In a variable speed transmission, the combination of a casing, a drive shaft and a tail shaft, journalled axially in the casing, planetary reduction gears between the shaits, a carrier having pins journalling the reduction gears and a third set 013 gears keyed to the reduction gears, a brake drum secured to a sleeve having a pinion meshing with the third set oi gears, a Fottinger fluid coupling between the carrier and the brake drum, and manually controlled means to flli an empty the fluid coupling.

-5. In a variable speed transmission the combination oi a casing, drive and tail shafts journailed axially in the casing, reduction gears including a reverse gear between the shafts, means including a Fottinger fluid coupling to cut out the reduction gear, a brake drum to the reverse gear and manually controlled means operating on the brake drum to ill] and empty the fluid coupling.

6.- In a variable speed transmission thecombination 01' a casing, drive and tail shafts journalled axially in the casing. Planetary reduction gears between the shafts, a carrier having pins journaliing the reduction gears, a brake drum journalled on the drive shaftpa Fottinger fluid coupling between the carrier and the brake drum, and manual controlled means operating on the brake drum to flli and empty the fluid coupling.

WILLIAM A. DUFF'IELD. 

